Richard Michael Dreyling III, the PhD student of the Department of Software Science, will defend his PhD thesis "Digital Transformation: Artificial Intelligence Enablement in Public Services" on September 25, 2024, starting at 11:00. The defense will take place in room ICT-638 (Akadeemia tee 15a, ICT building of TalTech) and can be also followed via Zoom.
The PhD thesis titled "Digital Transformation: Artificial Intelligence Enablement in Public Services" by Richard Michael Dreyling III examines the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within public services, with a particular focus on Estonia's pioneering efforts. The thesis explores digital transformation from multiple perspectives—technical, organizational, legal, and social—and aims to provide both academic insights and practical guidance for decision-makers in government sectors contemplating AI adoption.
Estonia, renowned for its e-governance systems, is developing an AI-enabled platform known as "Bürokratt," designed to facilitate the interaction between citizens and the government through chatbots and virtual assistants. Bürokratt represents Estonia's vision of AI-driven public services, with its core goal being the integration of AI into over 3,000 digital services provided by the government. The research investigates the challenges and steps involved in transforming traditional public services into AI-enabled systems. It discusses the importance of pre-existing digital infrastructures, such as Estonia’s X-Road, which enables data exchange across public and private sectors, and highlights the importance of leadership that embraces experimentation and innovation.
The thesis covers several critical themes: the importance of an organizational readiness assessment before embarking on AI projects, the legal and ethical implications of AI in public services, and the necessity for continuous evaluation and adaptation during AI implementation. The author emphasizes the need for a maturity model to evaluate public sector readiness for AI adoption, which would help governments anticipate challenges related to competence, technology integration, and social trust.
Dreyling’s work offers valuable insights into how public organizations can leverage digital transformation to adopt AI services, illustrating that successful AI implementation requires a blend of technical competence, organizational agility, and a clear strategic vision. His findings are not only relevant to Estonia but also applicable to any government or institution looking to navigate the complex process of AI enablement in public services. The thesis provides a framework for analyzing readiness and maturity, suggesting a path forward for public sector entities aiming to embrace the future of digital transformation through AI.
The thesis is published in the Digital Collection of TalTech Library.
Supervisors:
- Prof. Ingrid Pappel, TalTech, Estonia;
- co-supervisor Prof. Tanel Tammet, TalTech, Estonia.
Oponents:
- Prof. Mihkel Solvak, University of Tartu, Estonia;
- Prof. Anis Yazidi, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway.
Meeting ID: 915 9495 2008
Passcode: 415461